Improvement in apparatus for feeding and mixing gravel



A. D. FOOTE.

Improvement in Appartu s for Feeding and Mixing Gravel, &c., for FormingConcrete.

No. 129,330, Patented July16,1872.

ED TATES PATE T Orrron.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND MIXING GRAVEL,&c., IN FORMINGCONCRETE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N... 129,330, dated July16, 1872.

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR D. Foorn, of Guilford, New Haven county,Connecticut, temporarily residing in Washington, District of Columbia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forFeeding Composition and Gravel into Machines for Mixing Concrete andother paving material, of which the following is a specification:

In the preparation of paving material for concrete and other compositionpavements it is necessary to thoroughly mix the composition and gravelin certain definite and ascertained proportions before the same areready to be used as paving material. The mixing is efiected usually bymeans of a suitable mixing-machine, into which the composition andgravel are thrown, and heated and mixed up together. The material has.heretofore been put into the machine by hand, and no means have beenprovided for regulating accurately the proportion of the composition andgravel, but this has been in a great measure guessed at and been left tothe judgment of the workmen. The consequence is that very often thematerials are not mixed in the proper proportions, and there are thusproduced, when the pavement is laid, soft spots and imperfect patches,which must be taken up and relaid.

The object of my invention is to remedy this difficulty and to affordmeans whereby the composition and gravel can be fed always to themixing-machine in the right proportions.

The manner in which my invention is or may be carried into effect willbe understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, which representsin vertical section an apparatus embodying my invention, so much of amixing-machine being shown in connection therewith as needed for thepurpose of explanation.

The mixing-machine maybe of any ordinary or suitable construction. Inthis instance it is composed of a trough, A, in which is placed a rotarymixer mounted upon a horizontal shaft, shown at a, and driven bygearingb c, actuated by power derived from a suitable source in theusual manner. Above B and receptacle C are so placed that thecomposition and gravel will fall in a body together into the mixer.prefer to place the vessel C within the hopper B, both to allow the sandand composition to fall together in one stream, and because thereceptacle will be surrounded by the heated I gravel or sand in thehopper, and the composition will thus be kept warm and prevented fromclogging. In this instance the receptacle C is so placed that its lowerend will be at one side of the opening in the hopper-bottom, and theslide is arranged so that it may fit close up against the vessel C tocut ofi all escape of sand when desired. The nozzle of the vessel isslightly bent so as to bring it directly under the aperture throughwhich the sand escapes. I prefer to suspend the hopper B by links frompost D, and provide it with an arm, g, the outer end of which isarranged to come in contact with and to be struck by the spokes of wheelI). In this way, when the machine is in operation, the hopper will bejogged and shaken so as to insure proper delivery of its contents. Inusing the apparatus, the slide 01 and cook f are adjusted to permit theescape of the gravel and composition in the proper proportions. Thisadjustment having been made and the machine set in motion, all that isrequired for feeding the material is to keep the hopper supplied withgravel and the receptacle with composition. With an apparatus of thiskind the difficulties and inconveniences above alluded to are to a greatextent if not entirely removed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The gravel-hopper and liquid-composition For several reasons Ireceptacle, arranged above, and combined with the mixing-trough,substantially as shown and described, and provided at their bottoms oroutlets with means for regulating the discharge of their contents intosaid trough, as set forth.

2. The arrangement of the composition-receptacle within the sand orgravel hopper,

substantially as and for the purposesshown and set forth.

In testimonywhereof I have signed my name to this specification beforetwo subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses: ARTHUR D. FOOTE.

EDM. F. BROWN, M. BAILEY.

